Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Alexander Stewart of Balcastle (1756-1826)

Genealogical Record of a branch of the Stewart Clan commencing with Donald and Janet Stewart of Balhastle, Loch Tummel, Parish of Blair Athol, Scotland, to the year 1912, being a period of about two hundred years.

(Generation 2) THEIR CHILDREN

Alexander, born about 1758; married and settled in Perth; had a family. He died 1826.
Robert, born about 1760; father of Deacon Rob. and Donald Rob. Stewart of Lochaber, N.S.
John, born July 7th, 1764; died August 1st, 1824. Family came to Westchester, N.S., in 1832.
Christina, born 1768; married Alex Scott; went to P.E.I. about 1806.
Helen, born Sept. 3rd, 1770; married John Stewart (teacher) brother of Girzel, John's wife.

John Stewart, son of Donald and Janet Stewart of Balhastle, and Girzel Stewart of Balnald, were married 27th February, 1798. He died in Blair Athol, 1st August 1824. She died in Westchester, June 29th, 1861; aged 83 years.

The entries in the Old Parish Records for Blair Atholl are as follows:

Donald Stewart in Uchdnanetaig and Janet Stewart in Balintepaill of Fincastle, Parish of Dull were married July 17th 1754

1756 Donald Stewart in Uchdnanetaig and Janet Stewart his wife had a child born April 19th, baptised 25th called Alexander

Alexander married Isobel Scott in the nearby parish of Logierait. The Logierait OPR has the following entry:

21st November 1783
Alexander Stewart in Borenich parish of Blair Atholl and Isobel Scott in Tulipowrie (Tullypowrie) in this parish entered their names for proclamation in order to marriage. Married at Logierait upon the 11th December by Mr Bissett.

It is worth noting that on 22nd January 1784 the Logierait OPR records that his sister, Christian, and Alexander Scott in Tulipowrie entered their name for proclamation in order to marriage, and that they were married at Blair Atholl. Unfortunately the Blair Atholl OPR was poorly kept at this time. However, this suggests that both Stewarts had married into the same Scott family.

Alexander and Christian had a son, John, born 13th July 1788, but the entry has not been located, as yet. Alexander Scott's parents were John Scott and Elspit Ferguson (married 21st February 1747, Logierait), and he was born 28th August 1760.

Alexander Stewart and Isobel Scott lived at Balcastle where they brought up a large family of eleven children, but Alexander Ross's Genealogical Record provides little information about them. It merely states that the family settled in Perth, and that Alexander Stewart died in 1826.

Initially it was assumed that this meant Perth in Scotland, but no trace of the family could be found in Perth. Although two Alexander Stewarts did die in Perth in 1826, it is difficult to identify their families. The first was a 72 year old draper. He was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard on 20th July 1826. The second Alexander Stewart was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard on 26th December 1826, and his occupation was unknown. In both cases neither the address nor the next of kin are recorded, and there appear to be no memorial inscriptions.

Later research put this notion into doubt. In retrospect, Alexander Ross's expression that the family 'settled' in Perth sounds more like an emigration than merely moving a few mile south. In addition it is now known that at least six of his children emigrated to Beckwith Township, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada.

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(Generation 3) The Family of Alexander Stewart and Isobel Scott of Balcastle

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(Generation 4) Patrick Stewart of Balcastle

1785, Blair Atholl OPR
Alexander Stewart in Balchastle and Isabel Scott his wife had a child born January 30th and baptised February 6th named Patrick

Nothing more is known about this son.

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(Generation 4) The Family of John Stewart and Helen Lamont of Beckwith Township, Ontario

1787, Blair Atholl OPR
Alexander Stewart in Balchastle and Isabel Scott his wife had a child born 11th and baptised 15th March named John

John, the second son, married Helen Lamont of Balnald of Strathtummel on 16th March 1817, and within a year they had decided to emigrate to Canada. In 1818, three ships (the 'Curlew', 'Sophia' and 'Jane') were hired by John Robertson of Breadalbane to take settlers to Beckwith Township in Lanark County, Ontario. John and Helen were one of the two families from Blair Atholl parish who embarked on the 260 ton brig 'Curlew' bound for Montreal on 21st July 1818. The passenger list shows that they had a 3 month old child (Isabella) and were accompanied by a 16 year old boy named John Robertson.

We arrived in Quebec in seven weeks and three days from Grennock. There were but two steamers then running between Quebec and Montreal, "The Car of Commerce" and the "Montreal". We got to Montreal in the first named, early in the month of October. The steamers then had to be drawn by oxen and horses past the Current at St. Mary to the place of landing. there was no wharf at Montreal then. Long planks were used for a gangway.

Most of the immigrants who arrived at Montreal continued on to Beckwith, first being sent to Lachine in carts.

Our passage up the Ottawa was by batteaux rowed by French Canadians. In three days we got to Point Fortune, and our luggage was transported mostly in ox-carts past the Long Sault, and the Rev. Mr. McKelligan preached to us. When the boats arrived we reloaded and started. We had to camp in the woods at night. One night we were surprised to see a large canoe putting in to our camp, with a numerous crew, all speaking Gaelic. These men were engaged in the trouble between Lord Selkirk and the Hudson's Bay Company. After three days rowing we arrived at the Chaudiere Falls. As our location was in the township of Beckwith, with no road to it, and as it was now late in the season the people built huts of poles covered with pine branches. When the men were absent choosing their land some of these huts caught fire and some valuable articles were burnt.

On 24th October 1818, the Richmond Military Settlement Office allocated Concession 8, Lot 27 to John Stewart of Blair Atholl and his family. It is recorded that he had two children under 12 and one child aged between 12 and 17 (presumably John Robertson).

Duncan Campbell, the Town Clerk for Beckwith Township, compiled a census of the household heads and their families on 4th June 1820. John Stewart is recorded as having a wife and a female child with him. An unmarried John Robertson also appears in the census. A similar census carried out two years later shows that John and Helen now had a son, in addition to their daughter. Once again an unmarried John Robertson is listed. The Assessor's List compiled by Richard Finlay in 1841 includes John Stewart (C8, L27). In 1852 a John Stewart, farmer on C8, L29 is given as aged 66 years and having a house built of logs with 7 inhabitants.

Both John and Helen are buried in the Kennedy Cemetery, Beckwith. His stone reads "John Stewart, native of Perthshire Scotland, died Jan. 31st 1854? Aged 67 yrs". His wife's stone reads "In memory of Helen, wife of John Stewart, died Sept 7. 1872 Aged 82 yrs".

Their daughter, Isabella, married her first cousin, Neil Stewart, whose parents had lived at Balchapel in Borenich, Blair Atholl. The two witnesses were John Scott and James Stewart (Neil's neighbour and uncle).

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(Generation 4) The Family of Alexander Stewart and Elizabeth Stewart of Balchapel and Beckwith Township, Ontario

1789, Blair Atholl OPR
Alexander Stewart in Balchastle and Isabel Scott his wife had a child baptised 18th June named Elspeth

Elspeth (Elizabeth) married Alexander Stewart of Balchapel on 30th April 1809 according to the Blair Atholl OPR. Alexander was the eldest son of Neil Stewart and Janet Fraser of Croftcarnach and was born at Croftcarnach on 2nd January 1782. Croftcarnach was unable to support several Stewart families and Alexander had taken up the tenancy of the next farm, Balchapel, prior to his marriage.

Alexander and Elizabeth had a family of eight children and were living at Balchapel until at least 1829. In the early 1900s, their eldest son, Neil recounted that his father had been a tenant farmer near Pitlochry, and attended the Moulin church as there was no church in Pitlochry at that time. This would suggest that the family had moved from Borenich prior to their emigration to Canada in 1835. Their last child, Christian (Christina), probably was born 20th October 1832. No record of her baptism can be found so, perhaps, they had moved to the Pitlochry area.

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(Generation 5) The Family of Neil Stewart and Isabella Stewart of Beckwith, Lanark Co.

Neil died on 28th April 1904, and the following obituary appeared in the local paper.

The Grim Reaper has claimed another of the old residents of Lanark county in the person of Mr Neil Stewart of Beckwith, who passed away on Thursday of last week at the age of 93 years. In December of 1902 the Gazette had the privilege of presenting to its readers an engraving of the deceased, as well as of his brother, Mr Duncan Stewart, of Ramsay, and short sketches of their lives at that time.

The deceased was born in the parish of Pitlochrie, county of Perth, Scotland, in the year 1811 and was the oldest of his father's family. He came to Canada in 1835 and worked in Bytown, then a small village, for five years. Mr Stewart married his cousin, Isabella, daughter of Mr John Stewart, of Ashton, and afterwards bought a farm on the seventh line of Beckwith. Mr Stewart had learned the trade of carpenter in Scotland and when circumstances would permit he still followed that occupation. His wife died in 1899.

Of the children, three daughters and two sons are still living. The daughters are Mrs Albert Lewis, Brockville and Misses Lizzie and Bella at home, and the sons are John B., 8th line Beckwith, with whom deceased spent his declining years, and Duncan B., of Lennox, Manitoba.

The deceased was a man of stirling character, and was honored and respected by all who knew him, and his name will long be revered as that of a sturdy champion of right and truth. He was for many years an elder in Knox Presbyterian church at Black's Corners. In politics he was a staunch Liberal. The funeral took place on Sunday morning to Dewar's cemetery and was very largely attended. Rev. Mr McFarlane conducted the service.

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(Generation 6) The Family of Duncan Blair Stewart and Isabella Poole of Manitoba

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(Generation 6) The Family of Albert E. Lewis and Janet Stewart of Brockville, Ontario

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(Generation 6) The Family of Peter Gray Stewart and Mary Annie McNeely of Beckwith, Ontario

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(Generation 5) The Family of Big Sandy (Alistair Mór) Stewart and Margaret Stewart of Balintochich

Neil said that the whole family emigrated in 1835 on the ship 'Canada' owned by the Allan Lines, but this was not entirely true. His brother Alexander stayed on at Balchapel and did not emigrate with them. The following year he married Margaret Stewart of Knockgarry on 4th September. Margaret was the daughter of Donald Stewart and Janet Stewart (or possibly Robertson) who were living at Balintochich in 1841.

The 1841 and 1851 census returns for Borenich show that Alexander and Margaret moved from Balchapel to nearby Balintochich, where Alexander worked as a handloom weaver. They had seven children while living at Balintochich, but none of them were baptised or recorded in the Old Parish Records. By the mid-1850s it would have been impossible to compete with the weaving looms of the big cities, and by 1853 they had emigrated to Beckwith Township to re-join the rest of the family. Margaret Stewart's brother, Alexander (born c1813), and her sister Jane (born c1815) emigrated with them. Jane died 6th January 1899.

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(Generation 6) The Family of Robert Scott and Janet Stewart of Beckwith. Lanark Co.

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(Generation 6) The Family of Samuel Leach and Jane Stewart of Beckwith Township

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(Generation 6) The Family of William H. Jefferson and Helen (Ellen) Stewart

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(Generation 6) The Family of Neil Stewart and Elizabeth Alma Scott of Beckwith Township

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(Generation 5) The Family of Donald Buchanan and Grace Stewart of Bruce Township

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(Generation 5) The Family of Duncan Stewart and Christian McDougall of Ramsay Township

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(Generation 4) The Family of Duncan Stewart and Christian Kennedy of Woodend of Port-an-Eilean

1791, Blair Atholl OPR
Alexander Stewart in Balcastle of Borenich and Isobel Scott his wife had a child baptised 16th October named Duncan.

Duncan was married and had his own family before his father and the rest of the family felt that they should emigrate. Perhaps this is not surprising as Alexander and Isobel's children were born over a 22 year period, and Duncan was already 16 when the last of his brothers was born.

1832, Blair Atholl (marriage)
Duncan Stewart in Balchastle and Christian Kennedy in Uchdnanetaig, both of this parish, 23rd December

In the 1841 census Duncan and his wife were living at Woodend of Port-an-Eilean and had a small family: Isabella, aged 6; Alexander, aged 3; and Janet, aged 2 months. In latter years Janet related that the family emigrated to Canada in 1846, and settled close to Duncan's brothers in Beckwith Township. Duncan must have died soon after their arrival as, in the 1852 census, Christian is described as a widow.

Christian and her children were living on the 100 acre Lot 15 Concession 8 NE which had been purchased by her brother-in-law, John Stewart, from Gregor McGregor in 1848. The 1852 census gives her name as Janet Stewart, in error. In 1857 Christian purchased the SW half of Lot 15 Concession 8 from Gregor McGregor and the children of John Stewart, who had died intestate in 1854, deeded the other half to Christian. The property was transferred to her son Alexander in 1873 for "love and affection ... and $100", and names Christian's husband as Duncan Stewart "in his lifetime of the same place" (Beckwith).

Alexander probably died on 15th January 1885, as recorded in the Perth Courier (30th January 1885) and in his will he left all of his property to his mother and sister Janet. As his other sister is not mentioned, it must be assumed that Isabella died by 1861 as she does not appear in the census of that year. Christian died in Beckwith on 19th March 1900 and the unmarried Janet lived on at the property with her adopted daughter Ruby until 1924 when both halves were sold to William George Hudson for $3,000. Janet's death certificate has not yet been found and there do not appear to be memorial stones for any of the family.

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(Generation 4) Alexander Stewart of Balcastle

1793, Blair Atholl OPR
Alexander Stewart in Balcastle of Borenich and Isobel Scott his wife had a child born 8th and baptised 10th November named Alexander.

There is no definite trace of Alexander Stewart in the Blair Atholl parish records, apart from his birth, but circumstances suggested that he might have been the same person as Sandy 'Merchant Sandy' Stewart of Beckwith Township.

Firstly, Canadian records showed that Alexander 'Merchant Sandy' Stewart was born in Blair Atholl parish in either 1792 or 1793, which was similar to when Alexander Stewart of Balcastle was born. Secondly, 'Merchant Sandy' and his wife emigrated to Beckwith Township on the same ship as John Stewart of Balcastle and his family, and as these were the only two families from Blair Atholl it suggested that two brothers had emigrated together. However, there was no record of Alexander Stewart of Balcastle marrying, and the July 1818 passenger list for the 'Curlew' clearly stated that 'Merchant Sandy' had been accompanied by his wife Margaret.

It is known that the register of marriages for Blair Atholl is incomplete and between 1810 and 1818 there are only two marriages between an Alexander Stewart and a Margaret of any surname. The first is the marriage of Alexander Stewart in Kirkton of Lude and Margaret Stewart in the parish of Little Dunkeld, dated 16th December 1810. However this is not the couple as their son Charles was born in Blair Atholl 20th August 1820. The second is the marriage of Alexander Stewart in Craggan and Margaret Stewart in Auchghoul dated 12th April 1812, and as there is no further information about this couple, this may be 'Merchant Sandy'.

Alexander 'Merchant Sandy' Stewart settled at Black's Corner (Concession 9, Lot 14NE), but Margaret seems to have died soon after their arrival as Alexander is listed as being on his own in the 1822 Beckwith Census. Alexander actually had a half-share of Concession 9, Lot 14NE, with the other half belonging to Robert Scott jnr. from Dull parish. Robert's father, Robert Scott snr. from Dull parish had purchased Concession 9, Lot 14SW. Interestingly, the names of Alexander Stewart and Robert Scott, both of Beckwith Township, are cited as the executors of the will of Donald Douglass of Montague Township which he wrote on 7th December 1850, and was registered on 30th March 1854. The Robert Scott who is mentioned here, appears to be the son of Robert Scott and Margaret Stewart, Mains of Duntaulich, who was baptised in Dull parish on 3rd July 1796. Duntaulich is on the south side of Loch Tummel facing Borenich.

Although all of this is circumstantial evidence, it did suggest that Alexander 'Merchant Sandy' Stewart was the son of Alexander Stewart and Isobel Scott of Balcastle, Borenich. The breakthrough came from the will of Robert Stewart of Beckwith. Robert and his wife Helen (Ellen) Stewart can be traced back to Balcastle in Blair Atholl, and Robert's will which is dated April 1842 names "my brothers John Stewart, Alexander Stewart and James Stewart" as executors. In 1842 there were only two Alexander Stewarts who were old enough to be Robert's brother. One was Alexander Stewart of Balchapel and Beckwith, who was married to Robert's sister Elizabeth. His parents were Neil Stewart and Janet Fraser of Croftcarnach, Blair Atholl parish, and they did not have a son named Robert. So, by elimination, 'Merchant Sandy' must have been Robert's brother. There is additional supporting evidence that 'Merchant Sandy' had a brother John as he is mentioned in connection with the timber mills that were built by 'Merchant Sandy's' sons in Waba.

On 12th February 1822 Alexander 'Merchant Sandy' Stewart married Elizabeth Douglass in Montreal, Quebec. Transcription of marriage record: St Andrew’s Presbyterian church, Montreal, Quebec, folio 6: “Alexander Stewart of the Township of Beckwith, farmer, now in Montreal, and Elizabeth Douglass of Montreal, spinster, were married at Montreal on the twelfth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two in the presence of the under signed witnesses. [signed]: John McCuan [or McEuan], James McEwen, William McEuan. Minister: Robert Easton. [Alexander Stewart signed name; marked X for Elizabeth Douglass]. Elizabeth Douglass was living in Montreal at the time. It is interesting to note that the Douglass families from Blair Atholl often wrote their name with a double 'S' at the end. In addition her memorial inscription in the Kennedy cemetery, Beckwith, describes her as a 'native of Perthshire'. Is it possible that she was from Blair Atholl as well?

Alexander and Elizabeth had ten children, all born in Canada. Some of the sons worked at the sawmill in McNab township. There are numerous reference to Alexander 'Merchant Sandy' Stewart, and photographs of his house, son John and grand-daughter have been published.

Alexander died in 1892 and his memorial inscription at the Kennedy Cemetery, Beckwith, reads "Alexander Stewart 1792-1892. His wife Elizabeth Douglass, natives of Perthshire. Their son Alexander and daughter Elizabeth. STEWART".

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(Generation 4) The Family of Alexander 'Merchant Sandy' Stewart and Elizabeth Douglass of Black's Corner, Beckwith Township

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(Generation 5) The Family of Alexander E. Scott and Janet Stewart of Pakenham, Lanark County

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(Generation 5) The Family of Robert Stewart and Elizabeth Rea of McNab, Renfrew County

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(Generation 5) The Family of John Stewart and Margaret Robertson of McNab, Renfrew County

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(Generation 4) The Family of Robert Stewart and Helen Stewart of Beckwith Township, Ontario

1795, Blair Atholl OPR
Alexander Stewart in Balchastle and Isabel Scott his wife had a child baptised 20th December named Robert.

Robert was the sixth child of Alexander and Isobel. He married Helen Stewart of Achastle in Fincastle before this branch of the Stewarts left Balcastle. The marriage proclamations are recorded in the OPRs for both Blair Atholl and Dull parishes.

Blair Atholl, 1822 (marriage)
Robert Stewart in Castletown of this parish and Helen Stewart in Achastle of the parish of Dull, 10th February.

Dull, 1822 (marriage)
Robert Stewart in the parish of Blair Atholl and Helen Stewart in this parish gave their names to be proclaimed in order to marriage, 8th February.

There are baptisms for two of their children recorded in the Blair Atholl OPRs:

1824, Blair Atholl OPR
Hellen lawful daughter to Robert Stewart and Hellen Stewart his spouse in Castleton was baptised 5th April.

1827, Blair Atholl OPR
Elisabeth lawful daughter to Robert Stewart and Hellen Stewart his spouse in Castletown of Borenich was born 26th December and baptised 30th.

Robert and his wife also had a son, Alexander, born in Scotland in 1828, so the family must have emigrated between 1828 and 1833 as Robert Stewart purchased Concession 6, Lot 25 East, from Alexander Kennedy on 26th June 1833 and later purchased Concession 6, Lot 26 West, from the Crown Authorities in 1835.

Robert is mentioned by the Assessor, Richard Finlay, as the freeholder of the Concession 6, Lot 26 West in 1841, but he must have died soon afterwards as his son Alexander was known as Widow's Sandy, in the Derry. When Alexander was old enough to take over the farm he extended it to 300 acres in 1858 by purchasing an adjoining 100 acres from the Crown Authorities.

Alexander married Margaret Ferguson, the daughter of a near neighbour, James Ferguson, and they had nine children. Alexander's sisters married Sandy 'shoemaker' Stewart, Donald 'the piper' Stewart and Ninian Hyslop of Arnprior. The Stewarts left The Derry in 1887 and moved west.

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(Generation 4) Grisel Stewart of Balcastle

1798, Blair Atholl OPR
Grisel daughter to Alexander Stewart and Isobel Scott in Borenich born 16th January and baptised 21st.

Nothing else is known about Grisel.

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(Generation 4) Donald Stewart of Balcastle

1800, Blair Atholl OPR
Donald lawful son to Alexander Stewart and Isobel Scott, Bailcastle born 5th July and baptised 9th.

Nothing else is known about Donald.

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(Generation 4) The Family of Donald Stewart and Janet Stewart of Croftdouglas

1802, Blair Atholl OPR
Jannet lawful daughter to Alexander Stewart and Isobel Scott in Bailcastle, Borenich born 15th August and baptised 19th.

Janet married Donald Stewart of Croftdouglas on 22nd March 1829. There are no children recorded in the Blair Atholl OPR, so it is possible that the couple emigrated. There is a reference to a John Stewart who married Isabella Rennie on 5th February 1869 in Bruce, Ontario, which may be interesting as it gives his parents as Donald Stewart and Janet Stewart, and that he was born in Perthshire, Scotland, around 1833.

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(Generation 4) The Family of James Stewart and Isobel Stewart of Beckwith Township, Ontario

1804, Blair Atholl OPR
James lawful son to Alexander Stewart and Isobella Scott spouse in Borenich born 12th November baptised 16th.

James was the tenth child and his emigration to Beckwith Township is beyond doubt as his gravestone in the Kennedy Cemetery, Beckwith, states that he was born 1804 at Balcastle, and died 25th August 1879 at Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario.

James married Isobel (Isabella) Stewart of Dalnancarn in the parish of Moulin on 11th April 1830, and this is recorded in both parishes. According to the 1881 census, after the death of her husband she was living with her son, Alexander Forbes Stewart, and his family. Isabella died 11th September 1892 and is buried next to James in the Kennedy cemetery. Her memorial stone suggests that she was born about 1807, but her parentage is unknown.

James and Isabella had a large family, and as their eldest child was born in Ontario in 1832, they must have emigrated soon after getting married. There exists a document dated 24th May 1836 from James Stewart to P. Robinson, York, indicating his willingness to purchase Concession 6, Lot 10NE in Beckwith. However as this was a Clergy Reserve he seems to have been unsuccessful and by 1852 the family are living at Concession 6, Lot 12A, which was later designated as Concession 6, Lot 11. They must have done well for themselves as James and his 7 children were farming 300 acres and living in a stone house rather than a log cabin, which was the norm for most of their neighbours. His neighbour on Concession 7, Lot 12 was James's nephew, Neil Stewart, the son of his sister Elizabeth.

Helen (Ellen) and Janet (Jessie) married the brothers Donald and James Campbell of Pakenham township. They were the sons of Colin Campbell and Isabella Douglass, who had lived at Balcastle, Blair Atholl, before emigrating to McNab township. For details about this family, see The Campbells of Balcastle.

Helen Stewart, the wife of Donald Campbell is buried in White Lake Cemetery, McNab Township, Renfrew County, Ontario and has a memorial stone but her husband seems to have been buried elsewhere. James Campbell and his wife Jessie Stewart are buried in the same cemetery, and likewise have a memorial stone.

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(Generation 4) Charles Stewart of Balcastle

1807, Blair Atholl OPR
Charles lawful son to Alexander Stewart and Isobel Scott spouse in Balachastel born 13th December and baptised 16th.

Nothing is known about their last child, Charles.

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(Generation 5) The Family of Donald Campbell and Helen (Ellen) Stewart of Pakenham Township

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(Generation 5) The Family of James Campbell and Janet (Jessie) Stewart of Pakenham Township

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(Generation 5) The Family of William H. Code and Elizabeth (Betsy) Stewart of Ottawa

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(Generation 5) The Family of Alexander Forbes Stewart and Catherine Ferguson McGregor of Carleton Place

The 1881 Canadian census shows Alexander and Catherine's family including Malcolm, and finishes with Alexander's widowed mother Isabella. However, there are two people listed between Malcolm and the widow: William J. Stewart aged 23; and Louisa Stewart aged 14. The identities of these two people are unknown.

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Family Tree of Alexander Stewart and Isobel Scott of Balcastle